December 7, 1937. Mlanje Mountains, Nyasaland: The Lujiri tea estate of J. Lyons and Company. These pictures match vertically and show, above, the Ruo Valley with the falls, the descent of the river onto the sloping plain, and a large portion of the tea estate, with the factory and the terraced tea-growing belt. The terracing was down about three years ago at considerable expense to prevent loss of soil. This estate comprises 8000 acres, only 1200 of which are planted. There are 3500 working blacks living chiefly in villages on the grounds. About 2000 work at a time, the rest maintaining their own gardens. The estate produces a million pounds of tea a year and the output of the southern Nyasaland is about 7 million pounds. The total tea output of Africa is said to be 30 million and the world output 800,000,000 pounds exclusive of China, which probably produces and consumes an equal amount. J. Lyons and Company does a large business in tea jobbing, using the product of this estate only to blend with other products. We were told that the total yearly output here would last the company barely a week. Just beyond the three-story building where the tea is dried and prepared for shipment stands a good tennis court and a squash court. The English have discovered that tropical life requires both diversion and exercise. 11000 feet. 07:15.
